Yet in a poignant message the youngster’s mother made a desperate appeal for the Ysgol Gynradd Machynlleth pupil to be found.

Coral Jones, 40, told how she hoped April would be home before she turned 41 and her older brother Harley turned 11 in the coming days.

“There are birthdays coming up in our house, mine is first then Harley is just after,” she said.

“You love helping me wrap up Harley’s presents and blowing out the candles with Harley Jones and we got to re-light them again for you to blow the candles again and go around popping the balloons you little monkey.”

She added: “Please come home and make my birthday wish come true.

“I love you so much, come home so my heart can be fixed. I miss you like hell.”

Mrs Jones, who allowed her daughter to play out late the day she disappeared as a treat following a glowing school report, also wrote on the Facebook group set up after the youngster’s abduction: “April where are you we need you back home with us.

"You missed Christmas with us and I’ve got your present here still waiting for you.

“Please come home.”

Specialist police officers yesterday resumed the search having taken a two week break during the festive period.

Officers from 16 forces were once again joined by other emergency services including mountain rescue teams, sniffer dogs and specialist marine units.

The hunt to find the youngster is estimated to cost up to £2.4m having involved tens of thousands of man-hours, hundreds of officers and covered more than 23 square miles.

* Mark Bridger, 47, of Ceinws, near Machynlleth, has been charged with April’s abduction and murder, as well as perverting the course of justice. His next court appearance is scheduled to take place on Friday.

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.